Apparatus for raising water



y Apparatus for Raising Water. No. 227,993. Patented May 25, 1880',

ILPETERS. FHTD-LITHDGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. G.

`@UNITED STATES Fries.

PATENT APPARATUS FOR RAISlNG WATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,993, dated May 25,1880,

Application iiied January 6, 1880.

.'l`o all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, Isaac C. RICHARDSON, of Nashua, in the county ofHillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented eertain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Raising Water, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanism for automatically raising ordrawingwater from a well, brook, or other water-source and driving it toany distant point where a water-supply is needed; and my inventionconsists in a certain novel construction and combination of parts foraccomplishing said result, and for furnishing` an abundant supply ofeither cold or hot water, as may be desired, said supply being deliveredat the point where it is required, either heated or cold, at the will ofthe operator.

Referring to the drawings, formin g part of this specification, Figure lis a view, partly in section. Fig. 2 is a view showing the parts belowthe plane x x in Fig. l. are4 views showing modifications in thearrangement of parts. Fig. 5 is a'detail view, showing the specialconstruction of the valve actuating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a view showingstill another modification of the valve mechanism.`

A in the drawings indicates a boiler or other suitable receptacle,wherein Water may be placed and submitted to the action of heat. Vithinthis boiler I place an automatic valve mechanism, consisting of apivoted cylinder, B, having a heavy ball, C, rolling therein andconnected at one endwith a movable float, D. This iioat consists of ahollow metal cylinder, having a tube, d, passing through it at thecentral point, and connected with the pivoted cylinder B by means of awire, E, suspended from an arm, F, projecting from the cylinder B. Atthe lower end of the wire E is a head or iiange, c, of a size sufficientto arrest the descent of the float, and at the other end is atube-section ,f, through which the wire E passes, the use of the tubebeing to cause the oat to ride up vertically instead of swinginglaterally. Upon the upper surface of the cylinder B is attached afinger, b, engaging with an open fork upon the end of the valve-stem c'.

B is a tank orother suitable receptacle for Figs. 3 and 4t water,connected with'the boiler A by means of a pipe, a', a check-valve beinglocated in said pipe, as shown at g in Fig. l.

l may here remark that the relative situations of the boiler and thistank, as well as others shown, are to be varied as circumstances maydemand, since these receptacles may be placed at any desired distancefrom the boiler A.

D is a third receptacle or tank, connected with the boiler A by means ofa pipe, c, which passes from the bottom of the boiler to the bottom ofthe tank D'. These three chambersto wit, the boiler, the tank B', andthe tank D-may be still further connected by a series of pipes, as shownin Fig. l-for eX- ample, a pipe, b', passing from the top of tank B tothe top of tank D', and having a branch, e', passing downward to theboiler A; a second branch, f, springing from the pipe b between thebranch e and the tank D and entering the pipe et. A third pipe, h',springs `from the pipe e', passing toward the tank D,

then upward, and finally over the tank, which it enters at the `top. Afourth pipe, i', is dropped from the pipe h directly downward, and maybe carried into a well, cisteru, or other source of supply, the latternot being shown in the drawings.

Again, referring to the plan View in Fig. 2, a pipe, 7c', leads from thepipe a at a point not far distant from the boiler, and may be car riedto a barn or other building at a distant point. A short branch, Z',springs from the pipe ct between the junction thereof with the pipe fand the boiler, and connects with pipe 7c in the manner shown in saidFig. 2. These pipes are furnished with common plug-valves and withordinary check-valves, in the manner hereinafter described.

rlhe operation is substantially as follows: The three tanks A B D beingfilled with water, the float D is raised to the upper part oftheoat-spindle E, tilting the hollow cylinder B and causing the heavy ballC to roll to its end farthest from the float, thus dropping down thevalve-stem o' and closing the checkvalve g. Heat being now applied,steam will generate within the boiler, and its pressure may be utilizedin the following manner: The pipe b and the pipe'f are each providedwith IOO a plu g-valve, m' m2, the handles of these valves beingconnected by a rigid bar, fn., pivotally connected to the handles of thevalves. A similar valve,`m3, is placed in the pipe a, between the pipesf' and lc'. By operating the two connected valves in such manner as toclose the valve m2 and open the valve m', and also closing the valve m3,the whole pressure of steam within the boiler is conveyed to the tankD', through the pipes e' and b', and acts upon the surface of the waterin said tank D', driving it downward through the pipe a, thence into thepipe le', (seen in Fig. 2,) which it is compelled to enter by reason ofthe closed valve m3, and finally forcing it out at the distant extremityof the pipe 7c' into a suitable receptacle placed in the barn or otherbuilding where a water-supply is needed. When the tank D' is emptied, byclosing the valve m the tlow of vapor is arrested and the rapidcondensation within the tank or drum D' produces a partial vacuum,whereby a fresh supply of cold water is drawn up through the well-pipep' the check-valve m" being arranged to close against currents ilcwingfrom the boiler toward the drum D', but permitting passage in thecontrary direction. A checkvalve, o, is also placed in the pipe i',opening upward to prevent steam from the boiler tlowin g out.

It should be noted before going farther that the steam pressure has freeaccess to the drum or tank B' through the pipes c' b', and in thismanner there is an equal pressure on both sides of the check-valve y.

After the drum D' is emptied and filled, as just described, theoperation may be again repeated, and so on until the required supply' ofwater is obtained. When, however, this 1s long continued the water inthe boiler may become low and need replenishing. This is accomplished byautomatic apparatus as follows: Above the level of the boiler, and inany convenient location, is placed a tank, B', of smaller capacity,connected with the boiler A by a pipe, A'. In this pipe is acheck-valve, g, which is closed by the pressure of the water above itand opened by the automatic apparatus already described. Now, when thewater diminishes in the boiler and its level becomes lower, the iloat Dgradually drops, sliding down upon the spindle E until it strikes thehead e. Here its motion is arrested, and as the water lowers stillfurther the whole weight of the iioat, at last is thrown upon the arm F.This weight is sufficient to tip the cylinder far enough to roll theball C, and the weight of the latter, as it passes to the iioat end ofthe tube, trips the valve g and admits water from the tank B'. Thiswater is, of course, cold, or of much lower temperature than the watercontained in the boiler, and its entrance condenses the body of steamand creates apartial vacuum, which draws through the pipe i' leadingfrom the well, and thence through the branch h' e' into the boiler. Asthe water in the latter rises the action of the condensation takes placein both the boiler and the drum B', causingapartal vacuum, which, asalready explained, lifts the water through the well-pipe, and it isthence carried through both thepipe e' into the boiler and also throughthe pipe b into the tank B'.

Should it be desired, however, to drive hot water to the distant barn,house, or other point, it is only necessary to close the two plugvalvesm' and m3 and open the valve m5 in the elbow-pipe Z. (See Fig. 2.) Thepressure of the steam then drives the water in the boiler down throughthe pipe a into the pipe l', and thence into the pipe 7c', from which itis dclivered at the point desired, the pressure of the steam in the pipef resting onv the water which rises in the pipe from the boiler, andstands at the same level therewith. When the water in the boiler isexhausted itis replenished bythe automaticmechanism already described,and in the manner pointed out above.

In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown certain modifications ot' this samearrangement. Ain each ligure is the boiler. B' in Fig. 3 correspondswith the drum B' in Fig. l. The piping is different, however. The pipea, Fig. 3, leads from the Well and connects with the drum B', as shown.I) is a pipe to convey water from said drum to the boiler, and c is asteam-pipe conveying steam to the drum, corresponding to the pipes e'b', Fig. 1. D is the third drum, as shown in Fig. l, connected with theboiler by continuation d of the pipe c, said pipe d entering the drum Dat the top. A second pipe, e, having a plug-valve, f, passes from thebottom of the boiler to the bottom of the drum D'. From the well-pipe aa single pipe, g, runs direct to the top of the drum D', and finally apipe, h, leads from the pipe c at a point between the plug-valve j' andthe drum IOO IIO

IIS

D', said pipe h passing to the point where the water is to be driven. Atany convenient point in this pipe h may be jointed a branch, t',connecting it with the pipe d, and atfordin g a convenient point toplace the connected turn or plug valves m' m2. These valves are theexact counterpart in all respects oi the two connected Valves in Fig. l,and no further ydescription of them is necessary here. A checkvalve, h',Fig. 3, is placed in the pipe It, opening to admit flow from the boilerand closing against currents toward the boiler.

The operation o f this moditied form of apparatus is obvious. When heatis applied to the boiler A, by closing the plug-valve fand opening thevalve m", (closing at the same time the connected plug-valvem',) steamflows into the drum D' through the pipes c d., and the water in the drumis forced out through the the pipeh. When the water is exhausted fromthe said drum, the valve m2 is closed, and the condensation within thedrum produces a partial vacuum which draws water through the pipe a.When hot water is needed it is only necessary to open the valve f andclose the valve fm', when the water in .the boiler A will be driven outthrough the pipe e h, the boiler being filled by an automaticvalve-trippin g apparatus similar to that shown in Fig. l. It is almostunnecessary to add that the use of the pipe c is to admit steam to thedrum in order to balance the pressure of the steam within the boiler',as otherwise the latter would lift the valve g (see Fig. 1) and admitthe water from said drum prematurely. Acheck-valve, zo a2, is placed inpipe a below and another above the pipe g', both opening upward.

In Fig. t I have still another arrangement of piping, which may, undercertain circumstances, be preferred, as being somewhat more simple. TheboilerAis connected with a supplemental drum, B2, of small capacity, bya pipe, c2, the steam-pipe b2 entering at the other end to equalize thepressure upon the automatic valve at the end of the pipe a2, and withinthe boiler. B3 represents a tank, stream, or other supply of water, (indistinction from a well,) ithlwhich` the drum B2 is joined by a pipe,b3. C is a reservoir, placed at any distant point where the water-supplyis needed,

3 5 connected with the boiler by a pipe, b4, which branches near theboiler into the pipes b5 bs,

the former having a plug or turn valve, c, and

entering the boiler at the bottom, while pipe b6 enters at the top. ornear it. The only other 4o valves needed in this form of apparatus are acheck-valve, b2, in the pipe b3, opening toward the drum B2, and asimilar check-valve, b', in the delivery-pipe b4, opening to currentsflowing toward the reservoir C, and closing to all draft or current inthe direction of the boiler. The operation of this form of apparatushardly needs description. When heat is applied the steam forces thewater through the pipe b4 to the tank C, the steam in pipe b 5o restingon the water in said pipe, which rises therein to the level of water inthe boiler.

The boiler is filled by an automatic valve apparatus exactly like thatshown in Fig. l, or the modified form shown in Fig. 6. One point,

however, requires notice. The auxiliary reservoir,7 as it may be called,is connected by the pipe b2 with the boiler, said pipe being' opened andclosed by the automatic valveoperating apparatus referred to. When this6o valve is opened an amount of water sufficient to condense the steamin the boiler is admitted, and the vacuum thus formed draws a streamfrom the water-supply through the pipes b2 a?. The steam-pipe b2,already described, is

` carried up above the level of the water-supply, in order to preventthe natural tendency of the water therein to seek the lowest level,

pipes e h and delivered at the extremity of pipe g from the Well at thelower end of theV which would cause it to How down through the auxiliaryreservoir, and thence through the steam-pipe into the boiler, if saidsteampipe were not carried up above the level of the water at the pointB3.

Beside the valve-actuating mechanism shown in Fig. l inside the boiler,I have devised a modification which may, in certain circumstances, beused with advantage.

Instead of a single tube with a heavy ball therein, I may use twopivoted cylinders, A3 A4. (See Fig. 5.) Both these tubes are mounted onthe saine post or support, one above the other, and they are connectedat the ends either by a loose chain or by any other equivalent device.rlhe upper cylinder is connected with the valve in the manner alreadydescribed in connect-ion with the single tube. Now, when the float fallswith the lowering of the water in the boiler' the lower tube, A4, isfirst moved without disturbing` the other, and when the properinclination is effected the ball in said lower tube rolls and the iloatend is depressed to its lowest point. By this movement the chainconnecting the two cylinders at that end is made taut and draws upon theend of the upper tube, depressing it, and also rolling the ballcontained therein. A collar upon the post and one upon the tube limitthe movement of the upper cylinder; but no suchchecl; is attached to thelower. Consequently the automatic valve is opened more suddenly, and isheld open more eftectually until the required amount of water enters,when the operation is reversed and the valve closed. When, however, theboiler is supplied from a pipe in which there is a head or pressureofwater, it is well (and if the pressure is great it may be necessary)to use a plug or turn valve. In this ca'se l mount the ball-cylinderupon the projecting shank of the valve, as shown in Fig. 6, and in otherrespects operate it in the same manner.

When the point where the water is driven by this apparatus is lower inlevel than the boiler, in order to prevent the water from siphoning77over I Vmay carry the deliverypipe up to a level higher than the boiler,and there empty it into a suitable tank, whence it iiows naturally tothe desired point.

The preference as to the two forms of valveoperating devices shown inFigs. l and v5 is as follows: In using the single cylinder shown in Fig.l it is necessary to connect the boiler to a subsidiary drum, as B', andalso to a separate4 IOO IIS

water source, as a well or cistern, the latter connection requiring a'separate pipe. This form is needed for the reason that as water entersfrom the drum through the automatic valve it will probably tilt the tubefar enough to close the valve before the vacuum in the boiler issatisfied, and the residue of water required must enter through the pipefrom the well; but in cases where I pipe to a running stream, and thusobtain a low head or pressure, the double cylinder seen in Fig. `5 isindispensable, as it will hold the valve up until the body of waterrequired in the boiler has entered, and will thus enable me to dispensewith the second pipe which .is needed with the single cylinderapparatus, as described above.

The boiler maybe filled by a single pipe having` simply theautomatic-Valve apparatus whenever it is possible to connect with awatersupply having a moderate head. In this case the condensing-drum maybe wholly dispensed with and a single pipe without any other than theautomatic valve be used.

This invention is intended chiefly for use upon farms where there are nowater-supply companies, and where also no sufficient natural head ofwater exists. Even with these present, however, it is oftenindispensable to have a supply of hot, or at least warm, water, both tofeed stock with what is known as a hot mash77 and also to treat animalswhen sick. My invention will provide this at an eX- treni ely smallcost, and is so far automatic that no special knowledge is required inorder to operate it successfully.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters .Patent ofthe United States, is-

1. An automatic water-raising mechanism consisting of a boiler and anauxiliary resetl` voir, connected by suitable tubing to balance thepressure, and having an automatic valve mechanism placed within theboiler and operated by a tloat which is raised and lowered by the riseand fall of water within said boiler, as set forth.

2. The combination, with a boiler containing Water, of a subsidiaryreservoir, a conneetin gpipe, an automatic valve in said pipe actuated3. The combination, with a boiler contain- Iingl water, and providedwith a valve closing` and opening device operated by the rise and fallof the water in said boiler, of a subsidiary tank, an intermediate tank,and piping oonnecting the two and leading from the intermediate tank toa well or other water-supply, whereby cold water may be drawn to theintermediate tank and thence driven to the desired point, substantiallyas set forth.

4. rlhe combination, with the boiler, ofa subsidiary tank, a pipe, avalve, u nd a valve-tripper consisting` of a pivoted cylinder and a ballrolling t-lierein, the action of said cylinder being' controlled by aoat rising and falling on a spindle attached to one end, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of boiler A, outlet-pipe c, drum B', connectingfpipea', valve g, and valve-opening tube B, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. The combination of the boiler A, drums Bl D, piping c b e', and anoutlet-pipe leading from bottom to drum D', substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereot'l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC G. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

GHAs. B. TILDEN, WM. H. SAUNDERS.

